Bridge-mold.



J. G. MILLER.

BRIDGE MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED JULYI3, 1914.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D C.

l. G. MILLER.

BRIDGE MOLD.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY13, 1914.

Lwmm Patented A r 13, 1915.

3 SHBETSSHEET 2.

wih xeooao THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHOTD-LITHCL. WASHINGTUN. D. C,

J. G. MILLER.

BRIDGE MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED JULYI3, 1914.

Patented Apr. 113, 1915.

3 8EBBTSSHEBT 3.

Jam? wily: 200% THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO-l 'Tunu WASHINGTON. D C.

JOHN G. MILLER, 0F OBLONG, ILLINOIS.

BRIDGE-MOLD.

insurers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Application filed July 13, 1914. Serial No. 850,825.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN G. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oblong, in the county of Crawford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge-Molds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a mold apparatus for building bridges of plastic material, such as concrete or the like, particularly small bridges spanning streams or the like.

Important objects of the invention are to provide mold apparatus of the above menticned character, formed of parts which may be readily assembled and separated, and will enable small bridges to be built at a much lower price than has heretofore been obtainable; which may be used by persons not skilled in the art of bridge building of plastic material; which will enable the bridge to be built with its floor or arch, upstanding sides, and abutment, in one integral construction; and which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, convenient in use, strong, and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mold apparatus embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of a central adjustable support included in the same, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the entire apparatus, Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the entire apparatus, Fig. 7 is a similar View of a horizontal brace, Fig. 8 is a side view of a vertical brace, Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 7, Fig. 10 is a greatly reduced central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the completed bridge, and, Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the same.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 15 designates, as a whole, the preferably longitudinally curved floor portion of the mold apparatus, comprising transverse planks 16 or the like supported by longitudinally extending main beams 17. Each of the longitudinally extending main beams is formed in sections 18 and 19, which are detachably connected by tongue and guide joints 20, as shown. At their outer ends the beam sections 18 are provided with grooves 21 receiving tongues 22 formed upon uprights 23, as shown. The uprights 23 are preferably vertically adjustable and are provided at their lower ends with adjusting screws 24, engaging a foundation 25. This foundation may be dispensed with, in which event the adjusting screws 24 would engage the ground or other support.

The numeral 26 designates a centrally arranged support as a whole, comprising, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a rectangular frame embodying corner uprights 27, connected by longitudinal and transverse strips 28 and 29. There are also diagonal brace bars 30. The upper ends of the corner uprights 27 engage the longitudinal beam sections 18 and 19 at their points of connection, for supporting the same. Vertical adjusting screws 31 engage the lower ends of the corner uprights 27, to raise and lower the same, and are arranged upon the support 25, as shown.

Interposed between the uprights 23 and the central vertical support 26 are longitudinal extensible horizontal beams or braces 32 (see Figs. 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9). Each horizontal brace or beam 32 is provided at its outer. end with a penetrating element such as a pin 33, rigidly secured thereto, and adapted to engage and penetrate the upright At its opposite end the horizontal brace or beam 32 carries a metallic cap 34, attached thereto by any suitable means. A nut 35 is arranged between the cap 34 and the brace 32, and receives a rotatable adjusting screw 36 having a head 37. The inner end of the adjusting screw 36 operates idly within the opening formed in the brace 32 while its head 37 is arranged within a recess 38 formed in the corner upright 26, as shown. From the foregoing description it is obvious that both vertical and longitudinal adjustable supporting apparatus is provided for the floor portion 15 of the mold apparatus.

The numerals 39 and 40 designate, as a whole, abutment mold portions, arranged outwardly of and adjacent the ends of the floor portion 11. The abutment mold portion 39 comprises vertical sides 41, connected by inner and outer horizontal planks 42 and 43, detachably secured thereto by any suitable means such as bolts or the like. The abutment mold portion 40 comprises (see Figs. 1, 3 and 6) vertical end pieces 44, having detachable connection with spaced planks 46 and 47. The inner ends of the planks 47 are detachably connected with transverse planks 48 and the inner ends of the planks 46 are detachably connected by transverse planks 50, shown more elearly in Fig. 4. The planks 43 engage the uprights 23 and the planks 50 also engage the other uprights as shown.

The numeral 51 designates side mold portions as a whole, the ends of which overlap the transverse portions of the abutmerits, whereby the ends of the upstanding sides of the bridge are molded integral with these abutments. The lower ends of the side mold portions 51 have free communication with the interior of the floor mold portion 15 through longitudinal openings 52, whereby the sides and floor of the bridge are molded integral. Each side mold portion 51 comprises inner and outer sections of sheet metal 53 and 54, held spaced at their ends by members 55. Secured to the outer surfaces of these sections of sheet metal are reinforcing curved strips 56, preferably formedof wood. The inner sections of sheet metal 53 are, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5, vertically shortened whereby they do not obstruct the openings 52 while the other sections of sheet metal 54 are extended downwardly beyond the planks 16, and are secured to'the beam sections 18 and 19 by means of bolts 57. The sides of the side mold portions 51 are connected at suitable intervals by transverse bolts 58, carrying spacing sleeves 59, as shown. It may be found advantageous to connect the side moldportions 51 by transverse rods 60, as shown.

In the use of the apparatus, with the parts thereof assembled, the plastic material is preferably first poured into the abutment mold portions, and subsequently to this the floor mold portion 15 may be filled with the concrete or plastic material. The side mold portions 51 are neXt filled with the plastic material. The apparatus is allowed to stand until the structure is hardened, subsequently to which the same is separated and removed. it is obvious that this may be readily aeeomplished by removing the central longitudinal adjustable support 26, horizontal braces 32, uprights 523, and beam sections 18 and 19. Before the beam sections 18 and 19 are removed, the side mold sections are disconnected therefrom and removed. This having been done it is obvious that the planks 16 and the planks of the abutment may be removed.

As clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the floor of the bridge is formed integral with the abutments, the upstanding sides carried by the floor are integral therewith, and have their ends over-lapping the transverse portions of the abutment and integral there with. By this construction the bridge is found to be very strong.

. It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A. single span bridge mold, comprising a floor mold-portion extending longitudinally of the brid 'e mold and substantially transversely fiat ,separate spaced abutment moldportions arranged beneath the ends of the door mold-portion and extending transversely thereof; and side mold-portions extending longitudinally of and above the floor moldportion and projecting above and across the tops of the abutment mold-portions for substantial distances, whereby the floor, abutments and sides of the bridge are formed integral.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. MILLER. lVitnesses JACOB EARNST, JosErI-I EARNST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

